Two Ugandan women arrested for kissing in public – police
Two Ugandan women were arrested for kissing in public under the country's harsh anti-gay law, which can lead to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations or even the death penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality'.
Two Ugandan women, aged 21 and 22, were arrested on February 18, 2026, in Arua, northwest Uganda (approximately 450 km from Kampala), for allegedly kissing in public. The arrest occurred after neighbors complained to police and provided photographic evidence of the women kissing publicly and allegedly hosting overnight visitors suspected of same-sex activities. The women were detained without legal counsel, and their case was forwarded to prosecutors for potential charges under Uganda's 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Police spokesperson Josephine Angucia confirmed the detention, stating the women violated Uganda's strict anti-LGBTQ law. The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act imposes penalties of up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations, while 'aggravated homosexuality' offenses can carry the death penalty. The law is considered one of the world's harshest against the LGBTQ+ community.
Human rights activist Frank Mugisha condemned the arrests on social media platform X, calling them evidence of a 'perilous cycle of blackmail and extortion' targeting Uganda's LGBTQ+ community. The incident highlights ongoing enforcement of Uganda's stringent anti-homosexuality legislation amid international criticism.
Philippine news outlet Inquirer.net covered the story through its globalnation.inquirer.net platform, but no direct reports from other major Philippine outlets like GMA, ABS-CBN, or Philstar appear in available search results. The case represents a significant example of how Uganda's 2023 law continues to be enforced against LGBTQ+ individuals, with potentially severe consequences for public displays of same-sex affection.
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